Letting babies discover their bodies and environment through their bare skin supports sensory integration —the ability to understand the information we take in through our senses.

This is a normal part of development — you just need to be aware and respectful of what your child is trying to express. As with all things parenting-related, just when you think you have something sorted out, it changes. Casual nudity may be fine and good when your little ones are little, but at some point, you might notice a difference in their comfort level — and yours. It led to some interesting discussions, but she also didn’t freak out when she started growing pubic hair because she knew it was normal.” Con: Boundaries can get blurred Even the most private of private parts serve a biological function and shouldn’t come with feelings of shame attached to them. This can particularly help as children hit puberty.

When parents begin to get uncomfortable and when they begin to actively question whether nudity is still OK, that’s a sign that it is no longer feeling OK and parental nudity should be phased out,” says Huebner. When kids are very young, the consensus seems to be yes, since babies and toddlers are generally oblivious to nudity. Where movement is concerned, this study showed that babies, whether new or experienced walkers, walked best when naked. The researchers think this may be due to the bulkiness of diapers between the legs, and because diaper material wrapped around the legs may limit movement and affect balance. While some parents may choose to start covering up when that happens — especially when the child in question isn’t the same sex as you — you can also use this as a teaching moment and defuse the situation with a matter-of-fact, anatomically correct comment.

Nudity between parents and children is fine as long as both are fully comfortable,” says parent coach Dawn Huebner, PhD, author of the self-help book for kids “What to Do When You Worry Too Much.”The bottom line: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to parental nudity, but whatever you decide will involve some degree of boundary setting.